Why so long ?

So what else can you do, either the hand is usable or not. As you say you're in pain still how will you be able to work with more than 1 hand ?

Feet and hands are not inter-changeable.

Either you are fir and can work or you're not and from what you say, you sound more like a liability on a site rather than an asset.

Get a Doctors note and give to the employer, if he's not happy he makes you redundant, find a new job, plenty of construction/renovation going on right now.

Sure it's coming up to summer holiday shutdown, but this also means certain sites need to be finished before and they employ more people to finish on time

Thanks, I will do.
I wanted to have an expert opinion on healing times before making another promise to the employer. I can't find any answer on the internet, so I was hoping to find a doctor in here, or someone having had a similar injury.

We are not "internet doctors" we have not seen the injury, we do not know the details, we are all different so how do you want us to tell you how long it will be before your 100% ?

How long is a piece of string ?

It's a good sign that he didn't want you back on day 1. It probably means that he saw the injury as a genuine one, and he didn't want to risk making your injury worse/longer, or risk another injury.

Remember that in most cases the first few days of sick time are on the employer's dime, then their own insurance kicks in. In other words, your accident will have cost him something, but once his insurance kicks in his concern is reduced to wanting to know if he can expect you back soon, or if he needs to organize an extra hand.

If I was on good terms with him, and thought he was a reasonable guy, I would just be open with him. He may be frustrated by needing to find a short term replacement in the middle of the high season, but he will be more frustrated if he doesn't get any info from you about how long he needs to fill the gap for.

__________________
If everyone you know agrees with you consistently, they are either not listening, or not capable of critical thought.

If I tell the employer that I don't know when I will be back, then he has to assume that I could be out for 1 month. In which case I'm terminated.
If I give a delay that is too short, then it's going to wreck havoc on the rest of the team (if I have to extend it in the future).

Then you've answered your own question - communication with both your Doctor, who will assess the situation and provide the necessary certificate is as essential as communication with your employer.

It makes no difference by the way whether you are legally employed at a desk job in a bank, or on a construction site.

OK, I think that ones's been done now.

There is no such thing!
I'm surprised you didn't get an appointment at your doctors for this coming week to see if it's healed or needs more treatment. As it was an accident, insureance needs a end date of the case too.

You can't be fired while on sick leave (goes for accidents as well).

I have (at different times) had damage to both index fingers. One was a deep cut that affected the tendon, the second a botched operation that damaged the second joint.

In both cases the swelling, my inability to bend said fingers, and pain on attempting to do so was severe. And it's very difficult to do certain tasks when one of your fingers is sticking out and catching on everything.
It might sound like a minor thing, but it's really not!

OP; try to speak to your boss, explain that your ability to use your hand is still restricted and get an appointment to see a hand specialist asap. The local hospital should have a department for such things if you can't find a space anywhere else.
You might need physio, there could even be more damage than was at first apparent.

You have my sympathy, neither of my fingers has ever recovered full mobility and I'm still getting pain from nerve damage several years on.

If you were self employed the answer would be no time at all, you would not even bother to ask the Dr.

It shows how little I know about construction, but this seems quite a ruthless business if you can be terminated for a serious injury incurred at work (or serious enough to prevent you working). Are you or your employer not insured against this sort of thing (which must be a common occurrence)?

The question you asked doesn't seem too relevant to me. A doctor will surely sign you off for a period deemed appropriate for the injury to heal. In a case like this, I presume he said something like he'd sign you off for a week and see how it is after that. It sounds to my amateur ear like quite a serious injury in terms of going back to work, so I'm not sure why 6 days seemed right.

Anyway, good luck, and look at your various insurance policies.

Why would you need time off? Just put a plaster on it.

Yeah, the ones tough Tom from Lugano uses, work wonders.

Because I can't close my hand, which means I can't do 90% of the work out there.

Come on guys, the OP is injured, unsure of how things work here, and worried about his job. Cut him a bit of slack.

@Steev: It doesn't matter what any of us think a hurt finger takes to heal, what matters is what the doc thinks.

Yeah, the pain is severe. When I lightly touch the finger it's as if I hit it with a hammer, or stabbed it. It's very acute and unbearable.

We did. Including the answer you're giving here. It has been provided by almost all of us
The only thing still missing are the suitable paragraphs delivered the SwissintheUS.

Basically: He has to see his doctor tomorrow, he has to hand in his new "Krankschreibung" (sick note).
I don't know if it's been mentioned yet but I think he shoul go ask the union about the legal situation (I think you can ask them even if you're not a member, they will just not fight for you).
In his line of work it is possible that the turn out is "unlucky". All the more reason to keep a cool head, take all the steps necessary and not drive himself crazy with if's and but's from loads of people who don't really have the answers.

No, don't just say "I don't know when I'll be back". That will confuse and annoy him.
Say that you cannot know UNITL YOU HAVE SEEN YOUR DOCTOR.
Tell your employer that you DO know that you will contact the doctor on Monday morning first thing. Or go to the doctor in a nearby hospital emergency tonight.
Tell your boss that you will phone him right after you have seen the doctor, to let him know what the doctor said.

In any case, DO NOT OVER-PROMISE AND UNDER-DELIVER.

Tell him every step you are taking: calling the doctor, seeing the doctor, what the doctor says, whether you need surgery or physiotherapy and when that will be (you'll know this better after seeing the doctor 1 or 2 or 3 more times) and give him the doctor's certificate.

The point is: you are afraid, and I can understand this. Don't hide. Be open and up-front, and keep the communication open. Tell him that you understand that it is difficult for him, and for the team, to plan the work, but that you will be back as soon as the DOCTOR says so.

IMPORTANT: If you haven't already phoned your boss, this is about your last chance to do so, for this evening. A phonecall after 21h or max. 21h30 is considered rude.

1. Go to work tomorrow. Show them your finger. Tell them you've made (or are making an appointment) with the doctor.

2. Go to the doctor to get his permission to take a few more days off of work.

3. If he doesn't give you permission, than at least ask for pain killers.

Good luck.